Archive for 2008

Sony is updating its line of α (alpha) DSLRs for consumers by introducing at CES the DSLR-A200. This 10.2-megapixel shooter is set to be priced at around $700 with a DT 18-70mm lens and a 75–300mm f4.5-5.6 lens for about $900.

The Sony DSLR-A200 camera builds upon the DSLR-A100 model. Sony says upgraded features include “a wider, 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD screen for easy playback viewing; a more compact body and an easily-accessible mode dial; an easy-to-use function menu (camera function display); improved noise control for higher quality images; an auto focus speed 1.7x faster than the previous model; improved predictive control performance; quieter shutter sound; automatic pop-up flash; and a battery life indicator that displays the percentage of battery life remaining so you know exactly when to recharge.”

Garmin has a new exercise gadget debuting at CES this year called the Forerunner 405, designed for runners to aid in training and track routes. The new 405 is also a little more stylish than previous models with similar functionality, keeping the size to a minimum so the gadget doesn’t look like such a gaudy chunk of electronics on your wrist.

The Forerunner 405 is GPS enabled and allows outdoor runners to keep track of their speed, distance, heart rate and location through the watch. This model also features a cool new bezel around the display that lets users navigate and change settings on the watch by simply tapping it and sliding their finger around the metal circle.

While most Bluetooth headsets we’ve seen lately are concerned with being discrete and then coming up with elaborate technology to focus on only noise from your moth, Joby is coming out with a new model that helps state the obvious when you are on a call. The new Zivio Bluetooth headset is being showcased by Joby at this year’s CES in Las Vegas this week, and features a long antenna like “boom” with a microphone at the end.

The headset is still relatively small at 13 grams and a length of 53.5mm, but with the microphone extended it more than doubles the overall length bringing it up to 137mm. The headset will continue to work with the microphone boom retracted, but when you receive a call and extend the telephone operator-like mic, it will improve your voice clarity and help drown out other background noise, not to mention leave those around you in no doubt that you are taking a call.

D-Link has a new networking product that they are unveiling at the Consumer Electronics Show this year, boasting the ability to bring videos, movies and photos wirelessly from a PC to a television or projector, getting your online video content into your living room. The D-Link PC-on-TV (DPG-1200) receiver connects to your television through composite or component cable connections and streams content from your PC through WiFi.

The press release from D-Link talks about using the system to stream media content to your television which is the most likely use for many people, and says it is media player-independent, allowing viewing of just about any media player that plays on your PC like YouTube, iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. You can also view an internet browser or play some online games through the system and navigate the display with an included remote control and trackball. Our interpretation of this is that the device really does what the name says: “PC-on-TV”. The ability to play media and view photos on your television is a big part but seems to be focused on for marketing purposes.

Sony’s Playstation Portable handheld gaming console has been trailing in sales to the Nintendo DS since the DS’s inception, but Sony is a far cry from giving up quite yet. Last month we saw a pretty cool upgrade with the version 3.80 firmware for the PSP which brought internet radio through the systems WiFi connectivity. Now Sony is saying that they are partnering with Ebay’s Skype to bring VoIP Skype phone service to the handheld system.

The new firmware is slated to be available for download to the PSP by the end of January and will add a Skype icon and functionality to the Network portion of the PSP’s menu. When connected to the internet users will then be able to log into Skype, manage contacts, view who’s online and of course make calls through their PSP to other Skype users or other PSP owners with the Skype feature installed. Owners will even be able to create a new Skype account right on the PSP.

If you are looking for a stylish CD/MP3 clock radio that has quality German design, Sonoro Audio has three new cubos that are launching during CES 2008. These retro looking units are an all-in-one clock that contains a slot-in CD/MP3 player as well as an internal iPod docking station with remote control compatibility and recharge function. It also has that old archaic thing known as AM/FM radio reception.

If you happen to be a fan of radio, they will also be offering a internet/FM radio cubo. It certainly combines form with functionality and they paid attention to design detail. Each of the three cubos are encased in wood in order to provide high quality acoustics. The metal grill located on the top of the product enables upward resonance from its powerful full range speaker.

Here’s a cool CES 2008 offering from Samsung. Samsung’s new SC-HMX20C is an HD Flash-based camcorder with a 1080p mode that features 30 frames-per-second recording capability. It also has 8GB of built-in flash memory. That’s probably more then enough for most casual users, but if you want more, it also gives you the option of recording onto SDHC/MMC+ cards.

Their are advantages to using flash memory. Such as quicker start-up, longer battery life, and a of course you can have a more compact design. This camcorder can also be used as a still camera, taking pics at up to 8 megapixels. Send movies directly to the HDTVA docking station that has an HDMI input and component connections.

Pioneer’s AVIC-F500BT GPS Navigator is designed to be compatible with any factory car audio set-up. The system lets you add in-car navigation and entertainment without modifying your existing car stereo.

The main feature is the VoiceBox Conversational Voice Search Platform, which is an advanced voice technology for controlling iPod and Bluetooth enabled devices. It has the ability to analyze and execute voice commands. For instance, if you say, “Let me hear the artist Led Zeppelin” or “play Led Zeppelin”.

Here’s one of WowWee’s fun companion-robots from CES 2008. He sure looks like he has a sense of humor. He’d have to, with a face like that. “Mr. Personality” displays said personality on a LCD screen that features animated and synced facial features. He tells jokes, reads your daily fortune and will gladly answer any questions you may have about the future. The cool thing about this robot is that the user can download new personalities from the Internet via USB or an SD card.

Some specs are: A fully animated upper body, color LCD screen, several play modes including Bits, Crystal Ball, Fortune Cookies, Demo modes. He is also capable of detecting and avoiding obstacles, and he’s not afraid to tell you when he falls or when the batteries are running low. He has a three-wheeled omni-directional motion base, 7 motors, 4 IR sensors, a built-in microphone for voice memos, 64 MByte of built-in memory, audio input connector and he requires 6 “C” batteries. The remote controller requires 3 AAA batteries.

Little by little technology continues to work towards integrating your digital life with the not-yet digital portions of your world, and Logitech is bringing it a step closer this year by unveiling the Lotitech Squeezebox Duet music system. This new system being launched at CES 2008 consists of a receiver box and a handheld controller that brings digital music from your computer to your living room, entertainment center, kitchen or just about anywhere you like to listen to music around your house.

The receiver is connected via WiFi (802.11g) to your computer (PC, Mac, Linux) and can be configured to find and play your personal music collection wirelessly. The receiver is then connected to your home entertainment center through standard audio cables to bring your digital music out of your office and into the rest of your home.

MSI is showcasing a number of new and recently released laptops at the Consumer Electronics Show. One of the most colorful in our opinion is the new MSI PR200 YA Edition series.

The MSI PR200 YA Edition series is available in four skin color choices. It sports a 12.1-inch display and is equipped with fingerprint reader technology for advanced security. It’s also HDMI ready and runs off of a Intel Core 2 Duo processor.

JVC continued its announcements of new CES releases as it unveiled what it is calling the world’s thinnest LCD TVs with built-in tuners. These new LCD televisions consist of the 42-inch LT-42SL89 and the 46-inch LT-46SL89.

Both models offers 1920 x 1080p resolution and feature a cabinet that across most of its width measures 1.5 inches (39mm) deep, with a maximum depth of 2.9-inches (74mm) at the panel’s center. Also part of this new design is a thinner bezel. These models also weigh less and consume less power than many conventional LCD TVs.

D-Link is betting you’ll want to manage your next digital picture frame through the Internet and has arrived at CES with the D-Link Internet Photo Frame (DSM-210). It is priced at around $250.

The D-Link Internet Photo Frame (DSM-210) looks like any standard digital picture frame with a high resolution 10-inch LCD display. It has built-in wired and wireless adapters which connect over a home network to a special Web site. On this site you can organize photos online for display as well as remotely stream content such as weather, news, trivia and more using popular Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds. Photos can also loaded onto the frame via a “widget” application which exists on your desktop computer.

Magellan is breaking GPS ground at CES by unveiling what it claims is the first GPS model to enable users to search for local events – from concerts to local library events – as well as local businesses and services. The Magellan Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS is set to price at around $1,300.

The Magellan Maestro Elite 5340+GPRS makes use of a wireless GPRS connection to let one search Google for businesses in a specific neighborhood, providing detailed, Internet-based information about those businesses. This connection will also deliver to users real-time traffic information, local weather forecasts, and makes it possible for users to wirelessly send addresses and notes to the GPS device directly from a PC with an Internet connection.

iLuv will showcase some new products at CES 2008 on Jan. 7th. One of the coolest is the i399 audio system. The i399 BluePin 2.1 Channel Hi-Fi Audio System for the iPod is the first iLuv product that actually features the newest BluePin II technology, which offers the user more freedom from up to 300 ft. away. With the detachable BluePin II, users can choose to listen to music on Bluetooth headphones by sending music from another stereo Bluetooth device to the i399. Some other nice features include FM stereo radio capabilities, digital clock display and an auxiliary line input for 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation iPods as well as other audio devices.

The i399 promises a richer more true sound thanks in part to the patented jAura sound cell technology and a woofer built into its 2.1 channel speaker system. Another impressive capability is that the i399 can also do incoming and outgoing calls since it includes a speaker phone. Yet another nice touch is the rhythm-sensitive blue LED light. That’s always a nice touch.